Why You’ll Love This Recipe
While this is a creamy cajun chicken pasta, it’s not too rich. It’s comfort food for sure, but it’s not heavy! We like to eat it year-round. Feeds the whole family in just 30 minutes! This is just one of my many quick and easy weeknight dinners. Tons of flavor from a blend of spices and aromatic garlic, onions, and bell peppers. Protein packed and filling with the option to add additional veggies if you’d like (spinach, mushrooms, or tomatoes would be my suggestions!).
Made with fresh veggies, a creamy, spiced sauce, and perfectly seasoned chicken over a bed of penne, this cajun chicken pasta has been a hit in our house since I first started making it a few years ago (it’s one of my Fall favorites alongside my chili recipe). This dish has it all; tons of flavor, enough protein to keep you full, and a creamy sauce that keeps you going back for more. Oh, and it’s ready in just half an hour! Try serving it with a side of my buttermilk cornbread for a full, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
You’ll see quite a few spices, plus some veggies, protein, and of course, pasta.
Pasta. While I recommend penne, you can substitute your personal preference when making this recipe. Linguine is always a popular choice (I use that in my cajun shrimp pasta!), but I like the way the penne holds the creamy sauce in each bite. Whole wheat or whole grain pastas are also great options for a little added nutritional value! Make sure that you stick to just 8 oz (usually half a package) of your favorite shape. Chicken breast. While you could cook the breasts whole, cutting up the chicken into bite-sized pieces before seasoning allows each piece to be fully coated in the seasoning. If you don’t feel like doing this, you can always just season and cook the breasts whole and serve them over the finished dish, like I do with my chicken alfredo, but I think a little effort in the beginning is worth the payoff. Spices. Including cajun seasoning (I like “Slap Ya Mama” brand!), garlic powder, black pepper, basil, and smoked paprika. Note that we will use only 3 teaspoons of the cajun seasoning for the chicken; the rest will go in the sauce. Bell peppers. Really any color will work. I used red and green in my old photos for this recipe, but today I’m using red and orange. Just make sure to slice them into thin strips. Cream. Heavy cream, whipping cream, or double cream will work.
SAM’S TIP: Grate your own cheese! Pre-grated cheeses (like the green plastic can we all know of) contain anti-caking agents that ultimately prevent them from melting smoothly into your sauce. Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make It
SAM’S TIP: If you want more veggies, toss in some canned diced tomatoes or make this creamy cajun chicken pasta with spinach! You can stir in a handful when you add the cream. It will wilt into the sauce, and honestly, you won’t really notice you’re eating it! This cajun pasta would make a delicious mardi gras meal, especially with a slice of king cake for dessert! Enjoy! Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of all the newest recipes, and find my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜 I originally shared this cajun chicken pasta recipe in 2019 over on Spend with Pennies!
